After the 1:2 defeat in St. Gallen during the week, a reaction was required from YB against GC. At least in terms of results, this was successful: The 1-0 win in Letzigrund allows the Bernese to calmly start the journey to Belgrade, where the second game in the Champions League group phase against Red Star is scheduled for Wednesday.
Coach Raphael Wicky had changed his team in 7 positions compared to the game during the week. One of them concerned the center of the attack, where Cedric Itten was preferred over Jean-Pierre Nsame.
Itten’s finest hour
By the 17th minute at the latest, the measure turned out to be spot on. Itten brought his colors into the lead from the edge of the penalty area after a cross with a direct backheel from the air. As nice as the goal was to see, the misconduct of the GC defense in this situation was also blatant. Kristers Tobers, who replaced the suspended Amir Abrashi as captain, gave Itten complete freedom.
Giotto Morandi had a great chance to equalize immediately afterwards, but Anthony Racioppi was in the post.
Elias 2-0 doesn’t count
As a result, the Bernese guests were able to rely on the Zurich team’s harmlessness in front of the goal. GC kept up well and played well at times, but in the last few meters they lacked any brilliant ideas. It wasn’t until stoppage time that Racioppi was seriously tested again. The keeper directed substitute Dion Kacuri’s header over the crossbar.
An extremely discreet performance was enough for YB to win and, at least for the time being, to take the lead in the table. In the second half, the champions acted surprisingly pomadic. In the 68th minute we still managed to make it 2-0. Meschack Elias’s header into the net after a shot from Joël Monteiro was revealed to be an offside goal by VAR.
This is how it continues
YB will have to improve noticeably on Wednesday in Belgrade. There will be no rest period after that: Basel will be waiting in the championship this weekend. For GC, which has been without a win in the Super League since August 6th and the 3-1 win against FCB, the guest game against Yverdon is on the agenda next Saturday.